Should the Browns Take Mike McGlinchey with the First Pick?
The Cleveland Browns used to have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. They were led by Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz and Joel Bitonio. However, Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz left during free agency. The offensive line has never been the same since. With Joe Thomas getting injured, it is the sad reality that the Browns must face in that it’s time to start looking for his replacement. The best place to look for his replacement is in the draft. This year is going to be a great year for offensive linemen, especially offensive tackles. One big name, and guy, is Mike McGlinchey out of Notre Dame.
My favorite player in the draft so far is Notre Dame’s left-tackle Mike McGlinchey. He’s a giant, sizing up at a crazy 6’8″ and 315 pounds. Just his size and build alone are good enough to make him a first round pick, but is he good enough to use the number one pick on? In my opinion, yes. Draft experts will disagree with me, but I truly believe that he is the best player in the draft right now. He has a laundry list of accomplishments that never appear to end and watching game film, it’s clear to see why. He bullies edge rushers. He uses his size to literally run over defenders. He’s also extremely fast, he might even be faster the Connor Williams who is 27 pounds lighter than Mike. There are so many videos of Mike just shoving defenders to the ground. The more film I watch and the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of the Browns taking him with the first pick. He’s a can’t miss guy. Both literally and metaphoric.
The Browns have four incredibly high picks in the draft, but so far this draft class is looking so underwhelming in terms of talent that the Browns just need to pick the best player available. We don’t need to draft a quarterback within the first three rounds for the third year in a row. It’s not a good look for the organization and Deshone Kizer has been improving from week to week, so it makes no sense to draft another QB in the first round, especially with the options this year. We also don’t need a running back. I don’t think Saquon Barkley will be that good. He’s struggled against top defenses in FBS. Plus, Isaiah Crowell, when actually handed the ball, is an amazing running back. The front office needs to go ahead and pay him. It makes perfect sense for the Browns to take the best available player and as of right now, that best player’s name is Mike McGlinchey.
I tend to say some things that are typically a little out there, but there is no doubt in my mind that Mike McGlinchey is the best player in the draft. Most draft experts would put amount of points, or how disruptive a player can be, over anything, but in terms of pure talent, it is very clear the best player is Mike. He legitimately bullies linemen out there. The film speaks for itself. The Browns not just should take him, but they NEED to take Mike with the first pick.
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Photo: ESPN
